Using the past Using the past tensetense

Using the past Using the past tensetense

Step One: er verbsStep One: er verbsStep One: er verbsStep One: er verbs

You need a marker You need a marker board.board.

You need a marker You need a marker board.board.

Write down all of the subjects (Je, Tu, etc.)Write down all of the subjects (Je, Tu, etc.)

NextNextNextNext

Write down the forms of Avoir that go Write down the forms of Avoir that go

along with each subject (if you don’t know along with each subject (if you don’t know

them, look at someone’s grammar sheet).them, look at someone’s grammar sheet).

The Official RuleThe Official RuleThe Official RuleThe Official Rule

Making things pastMaking things past

We know how to say We know how to say a lot of things in a lot of things in

French.French.

We know how to say We know how to say a lot of things in a lot of things in

French.French.to beto be

to goto go

to haveto have

to do/maketo do/make

to know (2 ways)to know (2 ways)

To be able toTo be able to

To have toTo have to

To wantTo want

To finishTo finish

To payTo pay

But how do you use But how do you use the past?the past?

But how do you use But how do you use the past?the past?

Let’s start with step one: -er verbs.Let’s start with step one: -er verbs.

First things firstFirst things firstFirst things firstFirst things first

The past tense (or you can call it the The past tense (or you can call it the

passé composé) is made up of two verbs passé composé) is made up of two verbs

put back to back.put back to back.

Remember when we did this before?Remember when we did this before?

Je vais étudier (I am going to study)Je vais étudier (I am going to study)

J’aime skier (I like to ski)J’aime skier (I like to ski)

Here’s How this Here’s How this worksworks

Here’s How this Here’s How this worksworks

First, You need a version of avoir (to have).First, You need a version of avoir (to have).

Avoir looks like:Avoir looks like:

J’ai Nous avonsJ’ai Nous avons

Tu as Vous avezTu as Vous avez

Il a Ils ontIl a Ils ont

Elle a Elles ontElle a Elles ont

In case we need a In case we need a reminder of this reminder of this

verb:verb:

In case we need a In case we need a reminder of this reminder of this

verb:verb:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=mZNFDPvv9hsv=mZNFDPvv9hs

So, when making So, when making something past, always something past, always

put avoir down.put avoir down.

So, when making So, when making something past, always something past, always

put avoir down.put avoir down.Let’s use the example of making étudier Let’s use the example of making étudier

past, or saying “I studied.”past, or saying “I studied.”

First, you need an “I,” that is “Je”First, you need an “I,” that is “Je”

Next, put down the form of avoir that goes Next, put down the form of avoir that goes

with “Je”with “Je”

that would be “J’ai.”that would be “J’ai.”

You’ve written out “I have.” That has nothing You’ve written out “I have.” That has nothing

to do with studying!! How do you make it “I to do with studying!! How do you make it “I

have studied?”have studied?”

Here’s a good grammatical word: a past Here’s a good grammatical word: a past

participle (un participe passé) is what you participle (un participe passé) is what you

need. All this means is the word that goes need. All this means is the word that goes

after the avoir.after the avoir.

For -er verbs, all you need to do is change For -er verbs, all you need to do is change

the -er to an é to make this past participle. the -er to an é to make this past participle.

jouer - jouéjouer - joué

regarder - regardéregarder - regardé

passer - passépasser - passé

So, all that we are doing So, all that we are doing today is making -er today is making -er

verbs past verbs past

So, all that we are doing So, all that we are doing today is making -er today is making -er

verbs past verbs past Let’s practice making past participles (try Let’s practice making past participles (try

these):these):

trouvertrouver

aimeraimer

étudierétudier

Past ParticiplesPast ParticiplesPast ParticiplesPast Participles

Trouver - trouvéTrouver - trouvé

aimer - aiméaimer - aimé

étudier - étudiéétudier - étudié

Putting this all Putting this all together.together.

Putting this all Putting this all together.together.Getting back to our example “I studied” Getting back to our example “I studied”

We said that I was “Je” and to study was We said that I was “Je” and to study was

“étudier”“étudier”

First step in making it past: put in a form of First step in making it past: put in a form of

avoir.avoir.

That, we said,was “J’ai”That, we said,was “J’ai”

Now, we need a past participle. We look at Now, we need a past participle. We look at

étudier, chop off the -er and make it a é.étudier, chop off the -er and make it a é.

Put this after the “J’ai” to create “J’ai étudié”Put this after the “J’ai” to create “J’ai étudié”

A few good A few good examplesexamples

A few good A few good examplesexamples

If I wanted to make “Je parle” past, it If I wanted to make “Je parle” past, it

would be ‘J’ai parlé.”would be ‘J’ai parlé.”

If I wanted to make “Tu aimes” past, it If I wanted to make “Tu aimes” past, it

would be “Tu as aimé.”would be “Tu as aimé.”

If I wanted to make “Nous détestons” If I wanted to make “Nous détestons”

past, it would be “Nous avons détesté.”past, it would be “Nous avons détesté.”

So now, let’s try and So now, let’s try and say a few things in say a few things in

the past.the past.

So now, let’s try and So now, let’s try and say a few things in say a few things in

the past.the past.Restate in the past (in your notes)Restate in the past (in your notes)

Je mangeJe mange

Il frappe Il frappe

Nous regardonsNous regardons